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How 10 celebrity mums lost weight after having a baby

By Alex Brooks |

Halle Berry

Ms. Berry is not only a sex symbol, but the proud mama of Nahla who worked out until she was seven months pregnant. When it came to dropping Halle's baby weight, the Oscar winner reportedly followed a 5-factor fitness plan which involved eating five meals a day, each containing no more than five ingredients, for five weeks. Well, maybe that's what she did. She might also have eaten healthily and worked out once she had the baby!

Jessica Alba

After the birth of her daughter, Honor Marie, always-athletic Jessica went straight back to the gym. She shed 11kg of baby weight with the help of her trainer. It's also easier to workout throughout the entire pregnancy to enjoy faster weight loss after the baby arrives. Although Jessica put on the healthy recommended amount of weight while pregnant, she stayed active with light walking, prenatal yoga and stability bike exercises. According to website ehow.com, Jessica found weight loss easy because she was following a strict plan, established by her current trainer Ramona Braganza, which involved scheduling daily workouts into a diary, so that late night feedings and nappy changes won't deter you from weight loss goals. The rigorous but effective training regime is called the 321 Baby Bulge Be Gone plan and involves hour-long workouts five days a week, doing three segments of cardio, two of strength training, and one 10-minute core work session. Oh, and Jessica also used a girdle to help get her abs back in shape.

Katie Holmes ballooned to the size of a small house when she was pregnant with Suri back in 2006, but within five months of the birth of her daughter Suri, the actress was back in shape. With the help of her hubby Tom Cruise, Katie did intense workouts that included lots of running and a strict diet prescribed by her trainer. Regular weights sessions gave her a sleeker, more toned appearance, and kick-fired her metabolism. She also breastfed her daughter which again encourages weight loss. It was rumored that Katie did the Church of Scientology Clear Mind, Clear body 30-day detox which uses intense exercise, hours in the sauna and vitamins and minerals to cleanse the body of toxins.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez is known for her famous curves and her discipline. After the birth of her twins, Max and Emme, she had to shed 23kg to compete in a triathlon. With the help of her trainer, Jen got into her workouts and cut all red meat from her diet until she reached her goal weight of 55kg. Although Jennifer did not breastfeed the twins (which can burn more calories than a strenuous cardiovascular workout), she continued to abide by her famously clean lifestyle with no drinking, no smoking and a balanced diet. Jennifer Lopez may be blessed with personal chefs and nutritionists who can work with her dietary needs, but you can create your own low-kilojoule diet plan by reading package labels, sticking to small portions and choosing healthy ingredients. Typical meals on her “new mother” diet were reported as egg-white omelets with vegetables, fresh fruit and Greek yogurt for snacks and plenty of lean white protein like tuna, chicken or fish.

Jenny McCarthy

Bubbly MTV personality, Playboy playmate and author Jenny used one of the oldest weight-loss plans out there - Weight Watchers. The weekly meetings and diet plan helped her shed the whopping 36kg she gained with son Evan. She is now a lifetime member, and was so successful in her slim-down that she now has her own fitness game on Wii Fit.

Heidi Klum

Though it seems like she is perpetually pregnant, Heidi had to be ready to strut in lingerie for a Victoria's Secret runway show two months after having her second child. Talk about pressure! Heidi credits her figure to eating three small, well-balanced meals every three hours, and to jumping on the rowing machine with her trainer. Whenever she feels hungry and it isn't time for a meal, she eats an apple and looks at naked pictures of herself as motivation to stick to her diet.

Gwen Stefani

Stefani admits to dieting since she was in sixth grade and calls her struggle with weight a “nightmare.” Gwen maintains that she kept up her rigorous exercise regimen throughout her pregnancy and that helped her to shed the weight after her son was born. After her second son, Zuma, was born, she did not let the baby weight settle. She hit the gym with in a major way with her trainer. She said she likes yoga and Pilates but mostly did intense traditional workouts to drop the baby weight. Jogging is one of her favourite workouts, and Gwen uses weights to sculpt and tone her body

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner looks like she can kick some butt! She is actually thinner now than she was before she got pregnant with her second child, Seraphina. After that birth, she took her weight loss a bit slower; it took more than three months for her to get back to her current weight. She was meticulous about eating a low-carb but high-protein diet, and having a trainer - plus a fully equipped gym in her home - didn't hurt, either. After her first child, Jennifer says, “"It took me a long, long time. I just wasn't that motivated. I wanted to play with her. Then I got on the treadmill, stopped stuffing my face and lost the weight. I cut out croissants, bagels and muffins - all the good stuff. And went back to having a salad once a day and protein."

Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow has long been known to follow an ultra-strict macrobiotic diet, but once she became pregnant, she was eating grilled-cheese sandwiches and french fries with abandon. Her diet after giving birth to her daughter, Apple, leaned toward a more balanced approach. She eats lots of organic foods, drinks plenty of water and exercises. She now has her website newsletter Goop and has written a book called My Father's Daughter which focuses on family togetherness at mealtimes - and the importance of not counting every calorie that passes your lips.

Christina Aguilera

Christina takes good care of her body by eating whole grains, fruit and vegetables but is a self-proclaimed fast food junkie who allows herself one day a week to indulge to prevent constant binges. This pint-sized songstress lost 18kg in four months after baby Max, but says she eased back into working out due to doctor's orders. She started working out six weeks after the birth of her first child, and credits breastfeeding with helping her shed the baby weight. (Breastfeeding does burn extra calories!) She also did cardiovascular training five days a week and was sure to keep her heart rate up to maximize its effectiveness. Christina's workout routine incorporated strengthening exercises in every session, with activities such as crunches and sit-ups being accompanied by twisting actions to hit all the abdominal muscles. If you want to do the same thing, plug in your iPod and listen to Christina's songs like "Fighter" and "Dirty" to remind yourself of your strength. Christina's fit body mostly comes from dance as well as elliptical and treadmill workouts.